Padres predicted to sign $61 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate to replace Dylan Cease
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Padres predicted to sign $61 million All-Star, former Cy Young candidate to replace Dylan Cease originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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The San Diego Padres have made multiple moves this offseason to replace the hole left by Dylan Cease in the starting rotation. They acquired Walker Buehler, J.P. Sears, and German Marquez, but none of them are even close to Cease in terms of talent.
They need at least a decent starting pitcher to take Cease’s place. Fansided’s Christopher Kline predicts the Padres will find that guy by renting former All-Star Lucas Giolito.
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“Last season was a proper roller coaster for Lucas Giolito, who returned from Tommy John surgery, only to have his campaign cut short by a shoulder ailment. He's seemingly healthy now, but the 31-year-old's complicated track record has left his market a bit muddied. It's unclear if teams are willing to offer up the three- or four-year deal Giolito probably believes he is worth. All signs point toward Giolito signing a higher-AAV, short-term deal so he can test the market again next winter. The Padres need quality rotation depth more than most contenders. Their farm system is barren, Yu Darvish and Matt Waldron are both hurt, and it's hard to trust JP Sears or Germán Márquez as legitimate week-in, week-out starters,” Kline wrote.
Giolito finished 2025 with a 10-4 record, a 3.41 ERA, 121 Ks, and a WHIP of 1.290 over 145 innings pitched. He would make for a fine middle-of-the-rotation starter, and would be a lot more reliable than Buehler, Marquez, or Sears.
Giolito’s projected to get a three-year, $61 million deal, but as Kline mentioned, he’ll probably sign a short-term deal to prove his worth for a longer one next offseason.
And, with the Atlanta Braves basically out, getting him won’t be that hard. Hopefully, the Padres realize this and get to work on getting Giolito on their roster before opening day.
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